Sun shines on County Show crowd

Saturday's County Show was blessed by the sun as the crowds flocked to the Bignold Park for the annual agricultural show.

Champion in the beef section was a black Limousin cross steer shown by Liam Muir, Midhouse, Harray. Mr Muir's Limousin cross-heifer took the honours at Thursday's Dounby Show.

Champion horse was Jack and Laura Cromarty's five-year-old Shetland mare Bayview First Class. Champion sheep was a Charollais ewe shown by Sheena Coghill of Muce, Birsay.

The Parish Cup went east on Saturday night after Holm beat St Ola 2-1 in the final of the Bank of Scotland Parish Cup.

The parish last won the cup in 1950 and their "well deserved" victory at Pickaquoy was watched by a large crowd of supporters.

NorthLink begin investigations into Hamnavoe ramp cracks

To prevent compounding the damage, the Hamnavoe will use only the stern door for loading and offloading vehicles until repairs can be carried out.

A NorthLink spokesman stressed that the safety of the vessel or passengers has never been compromised, adding that the repairs will take place outwith the vessel's timetable so as not to affect sailings.

This year’s traditional Riding of the Marches was held on Sunday afternoon, starting from Broad Street in Kirkwall.

Dating back centuries, the ceremony saw a procession of riders accompanying a flag-bearer - this year Day Wishart - who carries the old Kirkwall town flag around the old burgh boundary.

Click here to view procession route map.

Orkney Vintage Club are held their 20th annual rally on Sunday at the Orkney Auction Mart in Kirkwall.

This year the theme of old trades was chosen and the rally featured indoor displays of old crafts such as spinning, straw-work and simmon making.

But the vehicles of yesteryear remained the main focus of the day with around 50 vintage cars, motorcycles, bicycles and tractors on show.

Saturday's 117th annual County Show in Kirkwall brought Orkney's agricultural show season to a close.

With the weather warm and dry, an estimated 10,200 people attended this year's show in the Bignold Park.

"Constructive" meeting regarding OIC funding

Councillor Hagan welcomed the Minister's statement that two items highlighted by the OIC will now be looked at - the funding of lifeline transport services in Orkney and the Special Island Needs Allowance (SINA) money.

Councillor Hagan said: "I think there is a genuine recognition of the difficulties facing Orkney."

"The Council is preparing a document which will be submitted to the Executive in the next few months that will spell out in detail the precise issues facing us." he added.

NorthLink begin investigations into Hamnavoe bow ramp cracks

To prevent compounding the damage, the Hamnavoe will use only the stern door for loading and offloading vehicles until repairs can be carried out.

A NorthLink spokesman stressed that the safety of the vessel or passengers has never been compromised, adding that the repairs will take place outwith the vessel's timetable so as not to affect sailings.

Accident report recommends helicopter procedure changes

The official report into last year's fatal helicopter crash off the Brough of Birsay is calling for a change in the procedures for dealing with underslung loads.

Anthony Taylor died in May, after the load he was carrying struck his helicopter's tail rotor in high winds.

The aircraft was on a charter for the Northern Lighthouse Board and transporting building materials to the Brough of Birsay lighthouse.

Archive stories:Pilot's name released as helicopter crash investigations begin
Body of pilot recovered after helicopter crash
Board "saddened and shocked" by Birsay incident

Records crowds at Dounby Show

Record crowds took advantage of Thursday's sunshine and turned up for the Dounby Show.

The organisers confirmed on Friday that around 5,500 people went through the gates - one of the highest turnouts in the history of the show.

'Steph' is Dounby champion of champions

The 'Champion of Champions' at Thursday's Douby Show was "Steph" - a one-year-old heifer owned by Liam Muir, Midhouse Harray.

Reserve champion was a two-year-old Aberdeen Angus bull from Davidsons of Skaill, Sandwick.

Police repeat warning regarding spiked drinks

Following information received, Kirkwall police are repeating their warning on the dangers of spiked drinks.

Although no official complaints have been made to the police, they have reason to believe that drink spiking has been taking place and are urging the public to take care when out in the pubs.

They stress that no-one should accept drinks from strangers or leave drinks unattended at any time.

Pilot hailed a hero after engine failure at 6,500 ft

A Loganair pilot has been hailed a hero after successfully landing his plane safely after a mid-air engine failure.

The routine air ambulance flight last Thursday afternoon ran into difficulties when the starboard engine failed 16 miles out of Aberdeen.

But according to Dr Mahmood Kausar, junior surgeon at Balfour Hospital who was on the plane, a cool head from the pilot of the aircraft, Captain Malcolm Hempsell, ensured the aircraft was able to land safely.

Aberdeen farmers head north for Orkney tour

Forty farmers from Aberdeenshire are heading north for a summer tour of Orkney and to attend Saturday's County Show.

The farmers, all members of the North East Aberdeen Angus Club - will visit Weddel farm in Burray, Burnside in Tankerness, Quanterness, Skaill and South Unigarth in Sandwick.

A spokesman for the group said: "We have had some memorable visits and we have always been well received by Orkney farmers. I'm sure this weekends trip will live up to all our expectations."

Aberdeen farmers head north for Orkney tour

Forty farmers from Aberdeenshire are heading north for a summer tour of Orkney and to attend Saturday's County Show.

The farmers, all members of the North East Aberdeen Angus Club - will visit Weddel farm in Burray, Burnside in Tankerness, Quanterness, Skaill and South Unigarth in Sandwick.

A spokesman for the group said: "We have had some memorable visits and we have always been well received by Orkney farmers. I'm sure this weekends trip will live up to all our expectations."

Hools Limousin is 'Hope champion

The champion of the yard at Wednesday's South Ronaldsay Show was a six-year-old purebred Limousin cow owned by Arthur Cromarty of Hools.

Mr Cromarty, who will also be showing at the County Show on Saturday, said he was happy with the result - one better than last year when he won the reserve.

OIC meets with Ministers over budget settlement parity

Deputy Finance Minister Tavish Scott was in Orkney on Thursday to discuss Scottish Executive funding of Orkney Islands Council services.

Mr Scott met with Deputy First Minister, and Orkney MSP, Jim Wallace and OIC convener, Councillor Stephen Hagan.

The informal meeting was held to brief Ministers on the funding issue that currently sees Orkney losing out by £13 million (£650 per head of population) every year, in comparison to the Western Isles and Shetland.

Record falls as temperatures soar

As Orkney basks in the sunshine, the temperature recorded at Orkney College on Wednesday is one of the highest since records for the county began - almost reaching 25 degrees C..

The thermometer at the Agronomy Institute tipped 24.6 degrees C (76 deg F) just before 3pm on Wednesday afternoon.

Prince Charles opens new Scrabster terminal - but Hamnavoe still waits to use it

Aerial view of the new Scrabster ferry berth

Scrabster's new ferry terminal was officially opened by HRH The Prince of Wales on Wednesday morning - although it will be the end of the month before it can be used by the MV Hamnavoe.

The new terminal was required to accommodate the larger NorthLink ferry but was so behind schedule modifications to the existing terminal had to be made to allow the vessel to come into service earlier this year.

But although it has been officially opened, there is still work to be done before it comes into service in late September or early October.

Click here for archive stories.

Good day for Quoymorhouse
at Shapinsay Show

The firm of T. & J. Leslie, Quoymorhouse had a successdul day at Tuesday's Shapinsay Show - winning the cattle championship and reserve as well as the champion sheep.

Their cattle champion was the home-bred Limousin heifer, Mystique - the animal catching the judge's eye from the start of the show.

Titanic exhibition comes to Orkney

An exhibition of memorabilia from the ill-fated passenger liner RMS Titanic is to take place in the Orkney Museum early next year.

From mid-January to the end of February 2004, the exhibition "Titanic; Honour and Glory" will feature items recovered from the wreck as well as costumes and props from the James Cameron film Titanic.

Migrating oil blamed for doubling estimated Royal Oak removal total

HMS Royal Oak - sank in Scapa Flow in October 1939.

This year's oil retrieval operation on the Royal Oak is now complete with another 70 cubic metres of oil removed from the wreck - more than double the predicted amount.

An MOD spokesman explained that the this year's increased total was due to the fact that oil is now migrating from inaccessible internal tanks into accessible tanks that have been tapped.

The latest operation brings the total of oil removed from the wreck to over 670 cubic metres.

Man detained in hospital after Sanday car crash

A man was taken to Balfour Hospital on Saturday morning after a road accident on Sanday.

The Nissan car was badly damaged after leaving the road and colliding with a telegraph pole near Castlehill, Sanday. The accident occurred around 7am and a passenger detained in hospital overnight.

Meanwhile, a motorcyclist was also taken to hospital on Sunday afternoon after an accident during the motocross races at Berstane Hill, St Ola. He was not badly injured but kept in hospital overnight.

Texel ewe is Sanday champion

The overall showyard champion at Friday's Sanday Show was the sheep champion - a three-shear homebred Texel ewe from Colligarth Farms.

The ewe was by Kirtle Artifice, which Colligarth bought as an aged ram from Patty Bews of Shalmar in Dounby.

Investigations continue into Lambholm motorcycle accident

Investigations into a road-accident in which a motorcyclist was killed near the Italian Chapel on Lambholm on Friday are continuing.

Ian Leslie (26) an offshore worker died in the accident involving a coach around 10.10am on Friday morning at the south end of Churchill Barrier number one.

The road was closed to traffic until late afternoon when a temporary bypass was established to allow cars past the accident spot.

European angling championships under way in Stromness

Sea-angling's European Line Class and Boat Championships get under way in Stromness today.

The competition, run by the European Federation of Sea Anglers (EFSA), is expected to attract 160 anglers and their families from 16 countries for what is one of the biggest dates on the European fishing calendar.

The championships run all week and results will be posted in the Stromness Hotel on a daily basis.

Youth footballers head to Norway tournament

A party of 35 young Orkney footballers left for Norway last night to take part in a youth football tournament in Askoy.

The boys' play Shetland today Monday before sailing on to Norway and their first Norwegian game on Thursday.

2001